Sheffield school rallies to help refugees

Paddington power is big on the curriculum at Hunter’s Bar Junior School, where pupils have raised a super sum to help refugees in Europe.

Parent Jane Jedrzejak, who has worked alongside Project Paddington founder Joy French, got the school involved, and the heartwarming response to the appeal has stunned everyone.

Bears of all shapes and sizes flooded in, with little messages of support from the children attached.

Over £3000 was raised by sponsorship as parents supported their children in raising awareness of the current refugee crisis.

The project that sees teddies and notes delivered to thousands of refugee families across Europe, was co-ordinated at Hunter’s Bar by the school council.

Headteacher Jill Hallsworth said: ““I’m immensely proud of how the children have rallied round to support Project Paddington. It’s clearly been something that has touched their hearts and has resulted in a great Hunter’s Bar Junior team effort!”

Jane Jedrzejak said: “Project Paddington is great for a school to run as it is all about children being thoughtful and caring about other children. I was really pleased Mrs Hallsworth and Miss Stevens were so positive about taking it on - especially as it was such a new idea at the time.

“Everyone at Hunter’s Bar can be really proud about giving so many teddies and lovely messages, and raising an incredible amount of money to help refugee children and their families.”

The children were given three weeks to take their teddy bears and sponsorship forms in to school, and they became emotionally involved with the project after viewing coverage of it both locally and on the television news. One single pupil managed to raise a staggering £556 in sponsor money.

But the joint effort at Hunter’s Bar resulted in one of the biggest totals submitted to the project by Sheffield schools so far.